National Champions!!!
May 09, 2009 | Men's Volleyball
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Provo, Utahย - UC Irvine captured the men's volleyball national championship with 3-2 (26-30, 30-23, 26-30, 30-17, 15-12) victory over USC at Smith Fieldhouse Saturday.
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It is the second national championship in three years for the Anteaters who end the season 27-5 overall.
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"That was an epic battle," head coach John Seraw said. "When we were down 2-1 some teams would pack it in, but this team didn't."
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Senior setterย Ryan Ammermanย was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after recording a career-high 13 total blocks, 55 set assists and tied his career-high with six kills. Ammerman had 12 block assists which ranks tied for third in the UCI match record books.ย ย Seniorย Taylor Wilsonย and freshmanย Carson Clarkย were named to the All-Tournament team after recording 21 and 15 kills, respectively. Sophomoreย Jordan DuFaultย added 14 kills and a team-high 11 digs. Middle blockerย Kevin Wynneย hit .556 (6-1-9), had two aces and three blocks. Middle blockerย Bryan Simmonsย came off the bench and recorded seven block assists and hit .800 (4-0-5) in two sets.
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The Anteaters recorded a season-high 20.5 blocks to USC's 7.5. The Anteaters had just 11 service errors while USC had 22.
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USC was led by Murphy Troy with a match-high 26 kills. Tony Ciarelli and Austin Zahn each added 15 kills while Tri Bourne had 12 kills in the loss.
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The team will be arriving at John Wayne Airport onย Delta at 12:08 Sunday if fans want to greet the team in baggage claim.
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The teams remained close in the first set until USC used two Anteater attack errors to take a 22-20 lead. That was all the cushion the Trojans would need as they took the set 30-26. UCI hit just .219.
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The score was tied 8-8 before UCI went on a 10-4 run which included a pair of aces fromย Kevin Wynneย and three blocks, the last a solo by Wynne to give the Anteaters the 18-12 lead. UCI would record 8.5 blocks in the set on their way to a 30-22 victory
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USC jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the third set. UCI rallied to close within 20-18 on a pair of Wilson kills, but a service error stopped the Anteater momentum. UCI closed the gap to 27-26 on a D'Amore and Ammerman block, but USC scored three straight to end the set 30-26.
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In the fourth set, UCI went on a 4-0 spurt which included kills by Ammerman andย Bryan Simmonsย and was capped by a Simmons and DuFault block to put the Anteaters ahead 8-3. UCI blew open the set with a 10-1 run to stretch the lead to 27-12. The run included four blocks. UC I cruised to a 30-17 win to force a fifth game.
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UCI jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead but USC was able to tie it at 3 all. With the teams tied at 6-6, USC used kills by Murphy Troy and Tony Ciarelli to give the Trojans the 8-6 advantage. UCI battled back with a USC service error and a service ace byย Jon Stellerย to knot the score at 8-8. The teams traded points and with the score tied at 10-10, UCI got a kill from Wilson and a block by Ammerman and Simmons followed by a Trojan swing that went wide to take the 13-10 lead. A kill by Murphy Troy was followed by a kill by Simmons (14-11). Following a Trojan point, DuFault put away a winner, 15-12.
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